In Need of a Finisher: The Top 5 Strikers Juventus Should Target This Summer

In Need of a Finisher: The Top 5 Strikers Juventus Should Target This Summer

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With just a month left in this Serie A season, Juventus finds themselves in the same position they ended their disappointing 2009-2010 campaign: seventh place in the league table.

This season has proven to be a rough one for the Turin based team who finished runner up to Inter Milan in the Serie A standings just a few seasons ago.

One of the reasons for this roller coaster of a season for the Black and White has been the team's lack of a deadly striker lurking around the oppositions goal. Based on various transfer rumors flying around these days, here are the top five strikers that Juve should whip out the checkbook to sign.

Giuseppe Rossi

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The 24 year old New Jersey native is one of several strikers Juventus has been linked to lately, and even attempted to work out a loan deal with Villareal earlier but was rejected by the Spanish club.

Signing Rossi in any fashion would be an instant upgrade for Juve on the attacking side of the field. After a respectable 2009-2010 season with Villareal, Rossi has gone above and beyond his previous year's output, racking up 15 goals, 5 assists and 114 shots during his 27 games played in La Liga in the 2010-2011 campaign.

Juventus obviously isn't the only squad trying to sign the talented young footballer, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly offering 30 million euro's for the forward. There is no question that signing Rossi will cost a fair amount of The Bianconeri's transfer budget come this summer, but it would be an investment that would benefit both the present and future of the Italian club.

Karim Benzema

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The French striker of Real Madrid finds himself the talk of many transfer rumors as of late, with several teams expressing their interest in the former Lyon man, one of which being Juventus.

This is a rumor left over from this past January's trade window, when Juve actively went after the striker, at which time it seemed the club was too strapped financially to secure Benzema. The-23 year-old has had himself a decent year for his club, posting 10 goals on 64 shots in his 26 games for Real.

Like Rossi, Benzema is going to cost a hefty price, but his strength and deadly finishing ability would certainly add more tallies in the win column for Juventus next season. Coming to the Italian club would provide the Frenchman an opportunity to start on a regular occasion, unlike his situation with his current club and provide a stage in which Benzema could truly shine.

After missing the cut on the French national squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa due to an off the field scandal and being demoted to a bench role with Real Madrid, Benzema could certainly use a better season in the 2011-2012 campaign. Benzema could certainly start on a regular bases for Juve, and both are in need of significant bounce backs from this season.

Luis Fabiano

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Statistics wise, Fabiano had an impressive run with his former club Sevilla until returning to Brazil and signing with Sao Paulo. In every other matter of speaking however, the 2010-2011 season is probably one that Fabiano won't ever be calling his favorite.

Between injuries and numerous disputes with the Spanish club, the Brazilian somehow found a way to score 10 goals in just 16 appearances for Sevilla but there was little chance after so much disdain between management and player that Luis Fabiano would still be sporting the colors of Sevilla next season.

There has been speculation about Fabiano going to Juventus in the past, with team management making an offer to Sevilla during the previous transfer window, but ultimately proving unwilling or unable to pay the 10 million euro price tag Sevilla placed on the 30 year old forward.

Now with Fabiano back in Brazil and just signing on the dotted line of a four year deal with Sao Paulo, it could prove more difficult for Juve to make this deal happen, but if it's at all possible and they can get him at a reasonable price, they should heavily consider the idea.

Dimitar Berbatov

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The Bulgarian forward of Manchester United seems to becoming more and more available as the days go by.

Berbatov has been seeing his playing time diminish and too much of the bench for his liking as of late. Between Javier Hernandez and of course, Wayne Rooney, Berbatov has struggled to find a spot on the field in ManU's formation.

Both Genoa and Juventus have expressed interest in the 30-year-old as of late, both contacting his manager and inquiring about the situation over in Manchester and his possible availability. Berbatov has 20 goals to his name in Premier League play this season, but has failed to score outside of league play so far.

If it did turn out to become a battle of who has the bigger checkbook between Genoa and Juve, it seems reasonable to suspect The Bianconeri to come out the victor. If they were to do so, Juventus would obtain arguably one of the best strikers in Europe in terms of ball control and would certainly give fans of the black and white something to talk and cheer about come next season.

Carlos Tevez

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Out of all the possibilities listed here, the signing of Manchester City's Carlos Tevez would in all likely hood be the biggest move Juve could ever want to pull off this coming transfer window.

The Argentine has earned the right through his time in the English Premier League and elsewhere that he is one of the best strikers in the world of soccer today. Tevez has been a game changer for every team he's ever suited up for and with the recent fallout between ManCity management and Tevez, Juve fans hope they can capitalize and get the striker into a black and white uniform this upcoming Summer.

Since joining Manchester City in 2009, "El Apache" has driven 41 balls into the back of an opponents net, the highest of his time with any club. He has scored 18 of those this season despite issues concerning his playing time.

Tevez is an elite, world class talent and recognized as one of the best strikers in European play, certainly somebody that could change the landscape of not just Juventus, but the entire Serie A. Adding the 27-year-old would significantly boost Juve's shots on goal in every game next season and give the club more opportunities in the opposition's side of the field.

Unlike some of the others named, this signing may prove to be less of a long term move considering the fact Tevez has had difficulties staying more than two years with a club, but it would be hard for any club to turn down the chance at such a talented forward.

Overall, any of these signings would prove to be a huge upgrade over any options Juventus currently has at the striker position, but Tevez in all likely hood would be the best player to break the bank for and certainly give more than a reasonable amount of production for his price tag.